European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, visited Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard to discuss the future of Europe’s shipbuilding sector. The visit focused on strengthening competitiveness, accelerating innovation, and reinforcing Europe’s strategic role in global maritime leadership especially as competition from Asia intensifies.
Strengthening Europe’s Shipbuilding Competitiveness
During discussions, both the Commissioner and Fincantieri executives emphasized the urgent need to reinforce Europe’s position in high value–added shipbuilding. With Asian markets rapidly expanding, Europe aims to consolidate its leadership in technologically advanced ships and revive key strategic segments essential for economic and geopolitical security.
The dual civilian-military dimension of the industry was also highlighted. Shipbuilding plays a crucial role in European defense, especially in areas like underwater technologies and the protection of critical maritime infrastructure. This makes maintaining strong industrial capabilities not just an economic priority but a strategic necessity.
Innovation, Digitalization and Decarbonization as the Way Forward
Innovation was identified as the core driver of Europe’s future maritime strength. Tzitzikostas highlighted the importance of sustainable and digital transition, including next-generation decarbonization technologies such as hydrogen and nuclear solutions. Digital transformation initiatives will also play a central role in boosting operational efficiency and competitiveness.
These themes form the foundation of the upcoming EU Maritime Industrial Strategy, expected to be unveiled in 2026. The Commissioner noted that this strategy will outline concrete actions to enhance innovation, resilience, and technological leadership across Europe’s maritime sector.
Industry leaders from Fincantieri, including CEO Pierroberto Folgiero, echoed these priorities. They stressed the importance of investing in advanced technologies, supporting skilled workers, and leveraging Europe’s strong supply chain to maintain global competitiveness.
The Monfalcone shipyard visit underscored Europe’s determination to remain a global leader in shipbuilding through innovation, strategic investment, and sustainable transformation. As the EU prepares its Maritime Industrial Strategy for 2026, collaboration between policymakers and industry leaders like Fincantieri will be essential in driving competitiveness, safeguarding strategic capabilities, and shaping a resilient maritime future for Europe.
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Source: Safety4Sea
